Voice Assistants and Beyond: Integrating TTS into Daily Life

Have you ever been puzzled by audiobook readers' mispronunciation or weird pauses? It takes a while to realise that you are listening to an artificial voice, right? These audiobook readings use text-to-speech (TTS) technology.

Text-to-speech (TTS) is a type of assistive technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to convert text into audio. Also called Read Aloud Technology, it uses an AI-generated voice to read text. This technology has wide applications in business and ordinary life and has recently improved considerably.

These days, if you use the right AI platform, there are no awkward pauses and mispronunciations. In fact, the AI voice catches the subtleties of human speech perfectly.

What Does Text-to-speech Technology Involve?

Text-to-speech technology is a part of artificial intelligence. The AI-based system has natural language processing (NLP) capabilities, which can convert written text into spoken words.

TTS technology leverages advanced algorithms and neural network models trained on diverse datasets to create AI voices that can read text aloud.

The end-product of a TTS system that can read text out in a human-like voice involves the following advanced technologies.

· Machine Learning Algorithms

As with other AI solutions, TTS technology also depends on machine learning algorithms that enable machines to learn from data and improve their output over time. For TTS technology, AI models are trained on large volumes of human voice samples from which they learn linguistic patterns, phonetic structures, and individual speech characteristics like pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. This helps AI voices to be more human-like and naturally expressive.

· Natural Language Processing

Natural language processing (NLP) is integral to TTS technology. NLP algorithms analyse the linguistic structure, semantics, and context of the text to understand and interpret the language. The aim is for the system to understand the context and finer meaning of the text to contribute to creating accurately synthesised human-like and believable speech.

· Speech Synthesis Techniques

Lastly, speech synthesis converts written text into spoken words. Various techniques are used to achieve audible sound from text. These include speech synthesis algorithms, voice models, and neural networks. Neural networks create synthetic voices that are almost impossible to distinguish from human voices.

Application of TTS Technologies

1. Giving the Most Famous Physicist His Voice

A 2015 article in Wired mentions an early use of text-to-speech technology for none other than the famous physicist, Stephen Hawking. He suffered from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), which led to the eventual loss of all voluntary muscle control. Hawking lost his ability to speak in 1985 when doctors had to place a tube into his windpipe to help him breathe.

Hawkins had a speech synthesiser that turned text into speech, which was given to him by Speech Plus in 1988. It was called CallText 5010, the same model used for automated telephone answering systems in the 1980s, according to Wired.

Speech synthesisers, or speech-generating devices (SGD), are a type of assistive technology designed to help individuals with severe communication impairments or speech impediments communicate by converting text into spoken words. Voice synthesisers, or text-to-speech (TTS) systems, are integrated into SGD devices, helping people with severe speaking disorders communicate.

2. GPS Navigation Systems

People who are faced with navigating an unfamiliar city or region in a car often turn to a device with an integrated GPS (Global Positioning System) to find their way. GPS systems use TTS technology to convert information, such as street names and directions, into spoken words.

So, while the driver is paying attention to the road and the traffic, the system provides spoken directions to the destination. In addition to giving voice guidance to a destination, GPS navigation systems leverage TTS technology to provide real-time traffic updates and suggest alternative routes to avoid heavy traffic, an obstructed road, or something else that might make travelling on the chosen route undesirable.

3. Virtual Assistants

Virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa in our smartphones and smart speakers use various technologies to respond intelligently to requests. Virtual assistants work with the help of automatic speech recognition (ASR), natural language understanding (NLU), machine learning, natural language generation (NLG), and TTS technology.

Developers worldwide can create virtual assistants using an Open AI Platform with an easy-to-use development kit that includes TTS, ASR, and NLP APIs.

Generating human-like speech from written text involves building a database of recorded human speech to train the system. This database helps the computer generate sound waves that sound like human speech.

When you ask Alexa, she processes your question and converts it into text. The TTS system then takes this text and produces a spoken answer to your question.

With their ability to understand natural language and respond sensibly, virtual assistants are becoming increasingly valuable in our fast-changing world.

4. Assistive Technologies for People with Visual and Reading Disabilities

Text-to-speech API is being used as an assistive technology to assist people with visual and reading disabilities in accessing information that previously was challenging or impossible for them to access.

By converting written text into spoken words using AI voices, TTS technologies are revolutionising how visually impaired people or those with dyslexia can access and understand information. These people can now listen to books, articles, textbooks, and the like instead of reading the content.

This technology is opening a whole new world to millions, who are now in a better position to participate fully in life, including competing on a more equal footing academically and professionally.

5. Assistive Devices for Senior Citizens

TTS technology is poised to play a significant role in the lives of senior citizens. Assistive devices enabled with TTS technology eliminate the need to read – the system reads information to the individual, like a prescription or a recipe.

Senior citizens often become very isolated. TTS-enabled devices can serve as companions, providing weather forecasts and reminders to take medication or a walk. The device can even engage in conversation with the individual, helping to reduce loneliness.

The system can keep the person company by reading to them, playing music, or providing news updates. It can provide care by enquiring about the person's well-being and notifying healthcare providers should it be necessary.

6. Provide Voice Artists

The voice-over market is exploding. In the past, voice-over artists were used in the movie, advertising, and marketing industries. With the advent of podcasts, e-learning, streaming platforms, and audiobooks, there is an expanded need for voice actors.

Text-to-speech API can generate an AI voice for every need. Voice-overs can be generated without the need for human voice artists, which can save organisations time and money.  

Videos are much more popular with internet users and more easily digested than text. For this reason, businesses are using vlogs to introduce brand identity. Instead of looking for a voice actor, a company can use an AI voice to deliver its message.

A carefully scripted vlog delivered by a capable voice actor or a synthesised voice-over actor can be a powerful and cost-effective marketing tool.

7. Voice Cloning

Voice cloning is a cutting-edge process with great promise, both helpful and dangerous. The technology enables the creation of a digital copy of a person's voice.

Voice cloning can recreate a person's voice, as was done in the case of Val Kilmer. He lost his voice due to throat cancer, and his voice was recreated for use in the film Top Gun: Maverick.

On the other hand, voice cloning can be exploited to distribute false information, fake endorsements, spread false rumours and more. The impact could be far-reaching and potentially devastating, depending on whose voice is cloned.

Voice cloning can benefit individuals with speech impairments and voice-related issues by providing their own cloned, synthetic voice that enables them to communicate effectively and preserve their identity.

8. Facilitate Auditory Learning

Around 33% of individuals are auditory learners, finding it easier to grasp information through hearing rather than learning. For these individuals, spoken words are crucial for comprehension and memory retention.

TTS technology assists auditory learners by converting written text into spoken words. It provides an alternative or additional way to absorb information. Listening to text helps reinforce understanding.

9. Helping Children with Learning Difficulties

Some young learners take a long to become comfortable reading due to learning difficulties, dyslexia, or visual impairment. Text-to-speech reading can be an invaluable aid.

TTS can transform written text on a computer or other digital device at the click of a button and convert it into audio. What you are reading is immediately reinforced by the text the system reads aloud, helping learners who struggle with reading.

The technology can highlight words as you read them aloud, providing multi-sensory input, which boosts learning.

10. Learning a New Language

Want to learn a new language? This technology can help you improve your listening, speaking, and overall comprehension of your target language.

Text-to-speech solutions can help you improve your listening comprehension. The software allows you to slow the reading down so you can hear clearly and play the excerpt repeatedly.

You can listen to various texts, exposing you to different vocabulary for a more comprehensive understanding.

The software is also invaluable for learning the correct pronunciation. You can replay texts repeatedly and record yourself to see if you are getting it right.

Listening to annotated text can help you learn new vocabulary in context, which is the best way to acquire a new language.

11. Automated Customer Service

For businesses, TTS technology is poised to significantly impact their operations through its ability to automate customer service interactions. Online shoppers are already familiar with this type of service.

The technology automates customer service by converting written text into spoken words, enabling automated systems to deliver information, answer queries, and assist customers around the clock. The programmed systems use AI voices to deal with customer inquiries. They considerably improve automated systems that play music and make you wait for the appropriate department to speak to.

Text-to-speech AI can increasingly comprehend complex queries and respond intelligently, using natural-sounding language. These digital assistants can answer customer questions, place orders, and handle complaints.

Automated customer service interactions enabled by TTS technology are changing how businesses interact with customers. It is all about efficiency and personalisation, but no actual human warmth is behind it.

12. Optimising Accessibility

Globalisation has put a spotlight on inclusivity. Whatever an organisation puts out should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their reading or language ability. TTS technology can help organisations make their information accessible to everyone, including those who find it hard to read content or don't understand the language.

The right artificial intelligence platform such as iFLYTEK can convert text into speech, giving everyone access to information. In this way, someone who doesn't want to read reports or memos can listen to them.

Someone from another part of the world who doesn't understand your language can get your information translated into their language by TTS technology. Someone on the other side of the world can listen to your company's newsletter in their language.

For more information about iFLYTEK AI technologies and the advantages of our platform for text-to-speech API technology, contact us now.